As part of the agreement, Mastercard will work with the Association and its members in providing collaboration and mentorship to strengthen tourism and drive digital transformation across the region.

PATA CEO Mario Hardy said, “Technological innovations are rapidly impacting how we do business today and, more than ever, organisations need to have a comprehensive understanding of current developments in order to navigate the digital landscape. This new partnership will provide an opportunity for our members to leverage the expertise, insights and experience Mastercard can provide so that they can remain competitive in this ever-changing industry.”

Mastercard is a technology company in the global payments industry, working with organisations across the tourism sector to deliver seamless and secure travel experiences. As a leading partner for the industry, Mastercard also works with over 100 cities around the globe, turning them into smart destinations that are easy to access.

Diana Robino, senior vice president, global tourism partnerships, Mastercard, said, “Mastercard is committed to bringing public, private and institutional partners together to advance more connected and more inclusive tourism. We look forward to working with The Pacific Asia Travel Association and its members, harnessing our innovation, insights and solutions, and unlocking the power of collaboration”.

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About PATA

Founded in 1951, PATA is a not-for-profit membership association that acts as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. The Association provides aligned advocacy, insightful research and innovative events to its member organisations, comprising 98 government, state and city tourism bodies, 19 international airlines and airports, 91 hospitality organisations and 70 educational institutions, as well as over a hundred young tourism professional (YTP) members across the world. The PATA network also embraces the grassroots activism our 36 Chapters and 20 Student Chapters across the world. Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 36 local PATA chapters worldwide, while hundreds of students are members of the 20 PATA student chapters globally. The chapters and student chapters organise travel industry training and business development events. Their grassroots activism underpins PATA’s membership in Uniting Travel, a coalition of the world’s major Travel & Tourism organisations dedicated to ensuring that the sector speaks with one voice and acts in unison on the major issues and includes ACI, CLIA, IATA, ICAO, WEF, UNWTO and the WTTC. The PATAmPOWER platform delivers unrivalled data, forecasts and insights from the PATA Strategic Intelligence Centre to members’ desktops and mobile devices anywhere in the world. PATA’s Head Office has been in Bangkok since 1998. The Association also has official offices or representation in Beijing and London. Visit www.PATA.org.

About Mastercard

Mastercard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry. Our global payments processing network connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. Mastercard products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MastercardNews, join the discussion on the Beyond the Transaction Blog and subscribe for the latest news on the Engagement Bureau.